Sunday Tribune 2025-10-12

Almost five decades after Sun City set the benchmark for leisure destinations in South Africa, the spotlight has shifted to KwaZulu-Natal’s North Coast. The announcement of a new Club Med resort, developed by the Collins Residential Consortium, has stirred considerable attention partly because of its scale and partly because of what it represents. With a projected construction cost of nearly R2 billion, it will be the most expensive destination-scale tourism venture in the country’s history – a marker that tells a wider story about a renewed appetite for investment in tourism infrastructure, the potential of projects of this nature to stimulate economic activity across local supply chains, and the sophistication of South Africa’s financial sector in structuring complex transactions in a sector often seen as high-risk. To grasp the significance…

KwaZulu-Natal’s property market is showing a clear shift in buyer preferences, with a marked increase in sectional title purchases across the province. According to RE/MAX, more South Africans are recognising the lifestyle and financial benefits of shared ownership models, particularly in high-demand coastal estates. From Palm Lakes Estate and Ballito Hills to Simbithi Eco Estate, Zululami, and Elaleni, the North Coast has become a magnet for those seeking security, convenience, and community-focused living. “Buyers are prioritising lifestyle, safety, and simplicity,” said Kim Peacock, Broker/Owner at RE/MAX Dolphin Realtors. “Many are pleasantly surprised to learn that levies often include building and common property insurance, offering a valuable saving compared to freestanding homes,” she added. Who is buying? The surge in sectional title demand spans multiple buyer groups, from young professionals seeking…

What began as a small family business delivering beds by horse and cart has evolved into a company that defines innovation, quality, and local pride. Sleep Group, today the largest integrated bedding manufacturer in southern Africa. The story of Sleep Group began in 1939, when the Metz family established Metz Furniture, a modest operation supplying local retailers. Beds soon became the biggest part of the business, and under the leadership of the second-generation owner, Michael Metz, the company rebranded as Metz Bedding in 1981. “Michael Metz and his family were true pioneers,” current CEO Michael Borcherds said, who worked alongside three generations of the Metz family before taking on the leadership role in 2022. “They brought an energy and passion that inspired everyone around them. For us, it was never…

Showmax is set to launch a new original series, Slay Queens, that dives deep into the lives behind the label. The new documentary series has divided audiences, with some expressing reservations about the topic, calling it “unnecessary” Author and media personality Jackie Phamotse, a self-proclaimed former slay queen, brings her lived experience to the conversation on the documentary. Her bestselling book Bare explores vulnerability, societal pressure and the consequences of chasing the high life. Phamotse, taking to her Instagram stories, hit back at the comments that are not in favour of the series and highlighted it as being a true reflection of how people see themselves. “Nothing matters in your eyes, the deaths of all these kids and women mean nothing to you. “You are so fooled by the title…

While Selena Gomez is in her blissful honeymoon bubble with Benny Blanco, the fifth season of Only Murders in the Building is keeping fans glued to their screens every week. As someone who is a huge whodunit fan, I don’t know how I missed this series. However, before I got into the latest season, I did a serious binge-watch of the first four seasons. Unsurprisingly, I absolutely loved it. Firstly, I have to say, the guest appearance on the show is enough to make any fan giddy with excitement. I mean, we are talking about Paul Rudd, Meryl Streep, Zach Galifianakis, Eugene Levy and Eva Longoria. Don’t even get me started on the casting of Nathan Lane, Tina Fey and Jane Lynch. The series centres on an oddball pairing of…

If you haven’t started binge-watching House of Guinness, what are you waiting for? The eight-part historical drama on Netflix is an intoxicating mix of scandal, power struggles, rebellion, forbidden romance, betrayal and political intrigue. As with most influential families, the legacy is underpinned by delicious drama and secrets. This series, inspired by the renowned family behind the Guinness brewing company in 19th-century Ireland and New York, opens with the passing of Benjamin Guinness, the man responsible for the extraordinary success of the Guinness brewery. While his four children – Arthur Guinness ( Anthony Boyle), the eldest Guinness son, Edward Guinness (Louis Partridge), Anne Plunket (Emily Fairn), née Guinness, and Benjamin Lee Guinness II (Fionn O’Shea) – prepare to say their farewell, there is a rebellion brewing among the Fenian Brotherhood.…